289 [=291]

[289]

[Lett. lxxix Letters Historical and Galant.]

A Sonnet to the Marquis of ***

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- "They flatter themselves here that the late Changes in England will produce some happy Revolution in favour
"of the Court of St. Germain's; and that the Jacobites, back'd by the Tories who triumph at present in London, will
"make new Efforts for placing the poor little honorary king upon the throne again. But there is no great like
"lihood of it: for Queen Anne is so well beloved by her Subjects, that a poor Irishman being condemned to the Pillory,
"for saying that the Queen would retire into a Cloyster, and restore the Crown to the Prince of Wales, the Popu
"lace rose, crying the Sentence was too Gentle, and had a mind to carry off the Criminal, to tear him in pieces
"as guilty of High treason. They were obliged to send for a Detachment to the Tower, which you know is the
"Bastille of London, and they had all the trouble in the World to quelling them; So Zealous are the
"English for their Sovreign. So James the third, is very likely to be a King in Name only. My Lord
"Galway is returning from Portugal, with less Limbs than he carried with him. He has resigned his Regi-
"ment, and several others are sending in Concert with Holland to the Assistance of King Charles, who is
"marching towards Andalusia to turn out our poor little King Philip, and send him to play teh part of
"a deprived King with their Majesties at St. Germain's. Marshal Berwick is still about Briançon,
"Tho the Enemies Army has retired from the plains to Winter quarters. Tis said that 6000 men are to
"be detach'd by them into Catalonia, where we shall not fail to be overpowered with numbers. The Allies vigorously
"push on the Siege of Aire, which is very forward, notwithstanding all the sallies of the besieged who
"have beat off the pioneers, overset the Gabions, and fretted the Enemy desperately. But for all this they
"cannot avoid surrendring; and if we should lose all our fine towns thus one after another, I am afraid
"we may sing in time to Come to the Glory of our Generals

'Twas as much as they could to save Paris.

Thrum, Thrum, Thrum Thrum &c.

"In truth, methinks they are taking pretty large strides towards it. All in good time: we shall see how the
"Conquerors will use their victories, and What regard they will have for the fair sex. However I have been told
"a Story, that gives me no very great Idea of their Gallantry: for they Say, that a woman of Quality going
"to the Army to complain to a Certain Prince that his troops had plundered her and carried off all her Equi
"page, the Prince said to her very Coldly: "And did they offer yany Violence to you too, Madam? --
"No replyed she, blushing out of spite ---- Oh then, replyed he, they cannot be my people, for they never
"would have miss'd so fair an Opportunity, You must be mistaken, and depend upon it it is not to me
"you should apply for Satisfaction for what has been done to you" -- This was a little en Cavalier,